Van carrying 10 JBLM servicemembers crashes, killing 1

Feb. 7, 2014 - 06:00AM
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LAKEWOOD, WASH. — The Washington State Patrol says one man died and another was injured when a van carrying 11 active duty members of the military from Joint Base Lewis McChord crashed on Interstate 5 in the Tacoma suburb of Lakewood.

The News Tribune reports the van was driven by a civilian contractor. Trooper Guy Gill says the driver lost control of the 24-seat vehicle Thursday afternoon and hit a concrete barrier, knocking over a light pole that blocked two northbound lanes. The cause of the crash is under investigation. Gill says there’s no indication the driver was impaired.

The 28-year-old man who died was not immediately identified. A second man was hospitalized in serious condition.

With two northbound and two southbound lanes blocked, traffic backed up at least 7 miles in each direction.